Lyon, France – From April 5 to 7, 2026, the city of Lyon will host the One Health Summit, a pivotal global gathering aimed at integrating human, animal, plant, and environmental health. This unprecedented event seeks to redefine strategies for preventing pandemics, pollution, and food crises.
Global Leaders to Converge in Lyon for One Health Summit
The One Health Summit, scheduled at the Cité internationale de Lyon, will bring together political leaders, scientists, and field actors. The summit’s core idea revolves around the interconnectedness of health across all living systems, a concept gaining increasing recognition amidst a global polycrisis encompassing climate, health, and social challenges. A high-level segment is planned for April 7, coinciding with World Health Day.
Addressing Four Major Global Risks
The summit will focus on four critical risks: infectious diseases of animal origin, antimicrobial resistance, unsustainable food systems, and various forms of air, water, and soil pollution. The overarching ambition is to prevent these threats more effectively by simultaneously addressing human, animal, plant health, and ecosystem well-being.
Key organizations, including the FAO, WHO, UNEP, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), forming the Quadripartite Alliance, will play a central role. They will collaborate with researchers, NGOs, businesses, and civil society to foster a common One Health culture and develop coherent responses to environment-related health crises.
Financing One Health: The Role of Public Development Banks
On the morning of April 7, a dedicated event co-led by the AFD Group, Finance in Common, and the Coalition for Social Investment will explore sustainable financing for this integrated approach. Titled “Investing in One Health: Supporting the Commitment of Public Development Banks,” this session aims to help national banks align their portfolios with country-defined One Health priorities.
Discussions will highlight the economic, environmental, and health value of preventive investments, such as strengthening biosecurity in livestock farming, financing integrated surveillance systems, and supporting climate-resilient health infrastructures. The morning will be structured into three blocks: framing the issues, identifying priority investments, and working on financial flow monitoring with common One Health labeling tools.
Public Engagement and Awareness
Beyond the conference rooms, the summit will extend to the general public through various initiatives. The Village des Découvertes (Discovery Village) will be open to the public on April 5 and 6 at Parc de la Tête d’Or. Additionally, the WHO will host a free film screening and debate on April 6 at the UGC cinema in the Cité internationale, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
This session is open to both summit participants and Lyon residents. Approximately eight short films from the “Health for All” Film Festival’s catalog of 330 films will address biodiversity, pollution, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and zoonoses, followed by a discussion with experts.
The One Health Summit in Lyon represents a significant step towards a more holistic understanding and management of global health challenges, emphasizing collaboration across diverse sectors and disciplines.
